Zenith's voice pulls me back to the present. 'Astrid, I need to talk to you about something before we arrive,' he says cautiously.
I turn my head to face Zenith. 'What is it?'
Zenith smiles warmly before continuing, 'It's very clever of you to hide your scent with those leaves in your pocket. I noticed the smell covering your rogue scent when you got in the car.'
My heart skips a beat as my mind races. 'How did you know I'm a werewolf?' I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
In response, Zenith's eyes suddenly shift into those of his wolf form. A chill runs down my spine as I witness the transformation. 'Because I am also a werewolf and the Alpha of my pack,' he declares calmly, returning his eyes to their human state.
Beside me, John grins widely, clearly enjoying my astonishment.
My chest tightens, and panic sets in as I start hyperventilating. 'Stop the car! Please!' I shout, desperate to escape this surreal situation.
Zenith shakes his head. 'Ignore her, Ralph. She is just overreacting,' he instructs the driver, then places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, causing me to flinch back.
'Astrid, you are one of us,' he says gently. 'I am not going to hurt you. But since you're a rogue, it’s dangerous out there for you. I’d hate to learn you were killed trespassing on other territories. I'm hoping you would even consider joining my pack, and you would have our full protection from whoever you are running from.'
'I'm not running from anyone,' I reply with a hint of sadness, avoiding his gaze.
Zenith sighs, clearly not buying my words. 'Astrid, you don't have to play dumb now. I know you were running from someone. Who are you running from?' he presses.
'It doesn't matter who I was running from because I won't be seeing them again,' I reply with a heavy heart, still avoiding eye contact.
'Well, my offer always stands: become part of my pack, and you will always have our full protection,' he assures me, then shifts his attention to the approaching destination. It looks like we have arrived,' he announces.
The car stops, and Zenith opens the door, extending his hand to help me out. 'Thank you,' I murmur as I step out onto unfamiliar ground.
John follows closely behind me, brushing against me as he exits the car. I quickly step forward, putting some space between us, and shoot him a subtle but pointed glare, silently warning him to keep his distance.
In the dimly lit underground car park, I trail behind Zenith as we approach the elevator. I position myself next to him at the back, leaving John to stand in front. I can't help but feel a bit underdressed in my simple hoodie and jeans, surrounded by these two men in their expensive-looking suits.
The elevator ride feels like an eternity, but finally, it comes to a gentle stop. The doors chime open, revealing a grand and immaculately maintained foyer. I follow Zenith as he strides out of the elevator and into the spacious area, trying my best to appear composed.
Zenith gestures around the foyer with a proud smile. 'This is the waiting room.'
The room is luxurious. It's vast and has opulent furnishings—plush couches and recliners elegantly arranged around coffee tables, ornate vases holding fresh flowers that perfume the air. In the centre, there's a long, gracefully curved desk, and along one wall, a magnificent water feature adds a soothing ambience to the space.
Zenith directs my attention to a sleek, stylish desk in the centre of the lavish waiting room. He points at it and explains my duties with a tone of authority. 'This will be your desk. You'll be responsible for greeting the clients and offering them a beverage. Over there,' he motions to a room adjacent to ours, 'you'll find a kitchenette stocked with a coffee machine and a bar fridge. You'll provide our clients with whatever they desire, understood?'
I nod, taking in the instructions.
Zenith continues, his voice calm but firm. 'The room directly behind your desk is my office. Under no circumstances will you allow anyone inside unless you've notified me via phone that they've arrived and I've confirmed that I'm ready to see them.'
Curious, I ask a pertinent question. 'What if someone insists on entering your office without waiting for your confirmation?'
Zenith's response is cryptic but ominous. 'Use your imagination and take whatever necessary measures to ensure they don't gain access.'
My eyebrows rise slightly in response to his enigmatic words.
He provides additional details, pointing out a phone directory for contacting clients and a diary for scheduling appointments. 'The computer has a digital diary I can access from my laptop to stay updated on our appointments,' he explains.
Zenith offers further guidance. 'I have another assistant downstairs; her name is Brooke. If you require any assistance or have questions, please call her. Her contact number is right there on the desk.'
With a courteous smile, I acknowledge the instructions. Just as I'm about to settle into my new role, a man enters the room, and I immediately recognize him as James, John's twin brother.
James enters with a mischievous grin, his friendly demeanour matching his twin brother's.
'Astrid, you've finally accepted my dad's job offer, I see?' he remarks, his tone teasing.
With a polite smile, I respond, 'Yes, I did. It's a pleasure to meet you, James.'
He responds with charm, taking my hand gently and placing a kiss on it, mirroring his brother's earlier gesture. 'Well, the pleasure is all mine,' he says, punctuating it with a wink.
James then proceeds to the room on the right of Zenith's office but stops before entering, returning to offer some explanation. 'In case you haven't been told, this room is my office, and the one on the other side of Dad's is John's. But half the time, we work together in my dad’s office.'
I nod with a small smile on my lips. Just as I settle into my role, the phone begins to ring. I pick it up and hold it to my ear, adopting a professional tone. 'Zenith Creations, Astrid speaking. How may I help you?'